Where oh where has the open beta gone? (Edit: Answered, there won't be one for ESO)

Usually by the time a game is this close to release there's an ongoing open beta in place. Heck, guaranteed beta access isn't even one of the pre-order bonuses! Are they going to have an open beta?

It hurts my interest in a game if I can't play in the beta at some point. I'll still be picking it up but at this point it's more because I feel I should try it rather than I'm eager to play it.

Between the ongoing NDA and lack of open beta it's almost like they're trying to sabotage the launch.

/sigh

Edit: I should have made clear that I understand that a beta is for testing and bug squashing - I'm an avid reporter of bugs and textual errors in beta and live games. Sorry if this post came across with the wrong tone. I shouldn't really have been posting this at 2:36 AM, right before stumbling to bed half asleep. Sorry!

Beta is not to play to see how you like it, you are there to test for bugs and report problems. there is no sabotage with the  launch at all.

Open beta is most times 2 weeks before launch.

I understand that - I'm someone who very actively submits bugs during beta and will gladly spend time working out how to replicate an unusual bug and submit it with full replication details when I can. I've done some QA work on software so I do that regularly, whether in beta or live. I've also worked as a proofreader and editor, so I submit many text corrections as well.

That being said, I like the side benefit of having this time in beta to get a good feel for the game and how I want to play it. Unless I'm completely forgetting the open betas I've been involved in in the past they're normally a good bit longer than two weeks. Granted, I could be confusing the closed and open beta time and therefore remembering open as longer than it was but I don't think that's the case.

@Kalec, I disagree. While Beta is for testing, reporting, and fixing issues, I also think it's become our "Demo" game (this if for an open beta, I do think closed Beta's lean more toward the testing side). MMO's can be a significant investment (both of time and money) and I want to make sure a game is going to be a good fit (at least initially) before I purchase it. 

@ Riannoc I've been wondering about open beta as well, but to be honest, I've never beta tested a game, needless to say a MMO, before, so the lack of doing so isn't bothering me too much.

I am curious about the game still being under NDA (except for the recent press releases), but I'm all for it if they're still planning on changing aspects of the game and don't want to over-expose any perceived negative features that still have a chance of getting axed before launch. As in they don't want potential customers to be scared away by the slaughterfish #shoddycast ;)

I do miss the days of try-before-you-buy (i remember picking up copies of PC Gamer for the demo CD alone) but not sure how that could be executed with an MMO unless they made something like WoW where you got to play the first XX levels for free, then had to purchase a digital box copy when you signed up for your sub.

I haven't been following the ESO forums, or the progression of ESO.  But it is odd that we have  6 weeks to go before launch and its still closed beta.

Maybe 4/4/14 will be the open beta?  I hate when games do that. :)    

Ok, since I haven't been following the progression of ESO, i'm off to post some questions about classes/races.  

You probably need to follow up on the ESO website and sign up for the beta. They have had a few beta weekends already and last weekend was the largest one yet from what I understand. Everyone who wanted to play pretty much could. They had keys available from the main site and curse.com. I am sure there will be more beta weekends available and if you sign up you will most likely get in.  So keep an eye out you will have a chance to check it out.

@Karbonatom I'm signed up for the beta. I can neither confirm nor deny activity in the beta weekends due to the NDA, but I will say this - a weekend beta, while better than nothing, is nothing like an ongoing beta as far as really getting a chance to test out the game.

As for myself, I usually don't get much gaming time on the weekend so a weekend beta doesn't work well for me. That's why I really want to get into an ongoing beta.

Good point.

To be quite candid, this "on and off" beta thing has hurt my interest in the game. Not because "I can't play" (I test as a beta tester, thank you), but because extended periods away from testing reduce my effectiveness at testing and introduce redundant bugs that are counter to the intended purpose.

I "get" that most likely, this model of beta testing was chosen to do A/B testing and likely also to ensure that "fresh eyes" were being used as much as possible, but it's rather like asking someone to be engaged in an activity and then, to not be so and oh, by the way, just go wait over there in the corner while we decide if we want to ask you back over here to look again.

Either I'm IN or I'm OUT as a contributor... which, sadly, means that I am OUT for this game until release, regardless whether or not I "make it" into one of their betas.

And, in that space, testing another offering has me enthused, engaged, and excited for it to launch... all the more lowering the likelihood I will wind up paying and playing the ESO offering after all. =/

http://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en/legal/nda

4. Nondisclosure of Confidential Information. You acknowledge that ZeniMax, through the investment of significant time, effort, and expense, is providing You confidential and/or proprietary trade information, intellectual property, business information or materials as part of the Beta Trial and that ZeniMax wishes to maintain the confidentiality of its Confidential Information. As a material inducement to ZeniMax to enter into this Agreement and to permit You access to participate in the Beta Trial, You hereby expressly represent and agree that You will not disclose, nor make any use of, or benefit from, directly or indirectly, the Confidential Information of ZeniMax.

(a) “Confidential Information” as used in this Agreement shall mean any and all information or material, of every kind and form, in electronic or tangible form, relating to the Beta Trial, Game or any other ZeniMax products and services which are made available to You by ZeniMax under this Agreement, whether or not designated as Confidential Information by ZeniMax. Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, all information relating to the Beta Trial, Your selection as a Beta Trial participant, the Game (including but not limited to information and ideas relating to the Game, software, software code, designs, graphics, rules, playing strategies, artwork, visual depictions, plot, theme, settings, characters, characterizations, skills, emails, screenshots, marketing emails, marketing and promotional plans, current, future or proposed products or services of ZeniMax, written or printed documents, announcements or prereleases, product samples, artwork, graphics, promotional and/or marketing items), the Beta Trial forums and other private ZeniMax forums, business and/or trade secrets, testing protocols, processes, and standards relating to the Game and/or associated products or services of ZeniMax.

I don't believe anything in this thread violates the NDA Booie. This discussion is about the lack of an open beta, not about participation in any beta events that are occurring or have occurred. I was careful to make sure that no lines were crossed in my original post and I haven't seen anything in the replies that seems to violate the NDA by talking about participation in the closed beta.

The closest I see is commenting on the existence of periodic betas. This is public knowledge as every gaming website posts about them when the invites go out. People know they're happening, whether they are invited to them or not.

I'm new around here and tried to be careful about this, so if I'm wrong please help me to understand how this violates the NDA so it won't happen again.

A friendly reminder to the poster above me, not you.

Ah, okay.

On the other hand there's an official answer now making the rounds on a few sites. Sony has announced that there will not be a traditional open beta for ESO.

http://www.justpushstart.com/2014/02/elder-scrolls-online-will-skip-open-beta/

oh well, maybe they will have trial subscription down the line.

I didn't imply or say I was in or out, merely that knowing this is how they're doing it lessens my interest. There is benefit in reading literally... :)

Oh, I'm sure I just misunderstood it. Happens all the time.

If you sign up for the beta on their site you are very likely to get into the beta's. They are inviting everyone that applies with a working email.

I kind of go against the grain on this to be honest.  I would rather see a trial period for a game rather than an open beta.   Too many people play the open beta's as a try before you buy rather than looking for bugs.  

There is a post in these forums and several others where some of these game reviewers (massively) have played the beta and then give their opinion on the game.  Its a BETA, its not a completed game and they are to me influencing people's purchase choice based on an unfinished product.  

It is not just ESO but most of the MMO's over the past few years there are people already up in arms before the game has even released based on what they see in a beta.  

There was a conversation on twitter between Massively and some other reviewer talking about how bad they thought ESO was even as they admit they only played to level 5.  Sorry this is why I really don't put any faith in anyone who is a "professional" reviewer.  

Yep, I agree Ammodawg. I just read another article from a different reviewer on Massively where the reviewer said that on previous betas he had played in Ebonheart and Daggerfall starter zones and hadn't been impressed with the game, but in the latest beta he tried Aldmeri and it was much better and really made him feel like he was playing an Elder Scrolls game. Seems to be a common feeling out there that the AD have the best starting area.

Either way, though, he said that once he hit about level 10 (in any faction) the game really improved and he enjoyed it a lot more. Once you're out of the restricted starter islands the world opens up and gives you more of the open world exploration feeling that ES games are famous for.

So if the Massively reviewer played to level 5 then they didn't see enough to get past the barest of first impressions.

» Edited on: 2014-02-14 13:49:35

Ya even Angry Joe put out a more contemplative take on ESO today after seeing more of the game. 

I am so with you on this Ammodawg! Everything you said.

I have always seen open beta as a sales stunt and sure they ironed some bugs out, but the game is for the most part done.

The thing with ESO is they have been inviting 100,000 - 200,000 - 350,000 players into the weekend betas - and that is by their own admission in their news feeds - just to stress out the servers and see how things are working.  I doubt they need an "open" beta when they have logistically been getting those numbers in the weekend betas that they would in an open beta.   This is the first game I've seen that has done invites to such an extent...  and like I stated - this is their own news nothing that isn't know since gaming publications have been giving away the keys.  

AFAIK - nothing stated so far in this post is against the NDA or family policy.

ESO Weekend Beta = "Open Beta".

I too believe that at some point Perun :D

And besides I think that not being invited to the beta testing phase of a game shouldn't impact on your desire to play the game (if you're talking from a tester bug-spotter point of view and not a play before you buy point of view) because if they do invite you...well you had the opportunity to help create a better game but if you're not invited then you should just be patience and be aware that there are other testers helping the game and if they invite you ever again you should do your best to continue your support to the developers and the game.

Well that's what I think, see you in Tamriel! :D  

The NDA of the beta has been lifted, they announced they are going to make more betas and also they invited EVERYONE with the curse.com promo (which is still around if you need a key). So yeah, it's not an open beta per sé, but everyone is invited now and we can talk about it :3

The NDA is dead, long live ESO! Looking forward to the next beta and meeting up with some of you in the game.

Nice. I haven't had a chance to be involved in the beta (and likely wouldn't have until now as the stop/start of weekends doesn't work with my work schedule).

I'll check it out more closely now... is there a server we're on, or is it "big world"?

It is one big world.

@Ekadzati The only part of gameplay I've seen that's "separated" in the traditional MMO sense is PVP. There are "Campaigns" where there seems to be a lock on how many players from each faction can join.

It is one world but they have what they call shards - so if a lot of people wind up in the same area they will be moved to different shards.  This is sort of like GW2 with the overflows - all content available.  There is a really nice travel to player option in the game that is supposed to put group members in the same shard or even non-grouped players can get to one another.  I think they are ironing out some kinks on the grouping into same shard after this last beta weekend based on the feedback they are getting.

AvA is going definitely be broke into campaigns with a size cap - I think it is a sizable number per each of the three alliances.  I had a number somewhere but at the moment can't find or remember it.  We will be primarily Ebonhart Pact, but as Fog stated in his Chapter 5 - ESO post that is stickied, we will be picking a campaign for each alliance because we want people to play how they want.  Not everyone is going to want to just do Ebonhart Pact and having it so we know what campaign to use for each alliance we can play together in any alliance and not be fighting each other either.  =)  Hope that blurbage made sense.

I plan on just doing AvA on my Ebonhart Pact toon, but I know I'll probably play around on the PvE in the other alliances with alts.  That's just how I play.

As for open beta - it's still by invite, but people are open to talk all they want about the various beta events/weekends they get to attend.  That's how we got to show off a great AvA time with our wonderful and crazy Pookah as the lead.  Oil is hot!  hehe!  Go see that video through another link.  Things just opened up for sharing so a lot more things will be coming out in the next 6 weeks left until early access.  =)  If you get invited make sure you enjoy it as well as openly minded test the you know what out of it.  =)  They are still definitely listening and doing what they can to polish this product.

I've seen a weekend or two, but nothing more. Work has ensured my exposure is minimal at this point.

I've been toying about with EQ Landmark in the interim and, I must say, it's better than I expected.